Without change in state law, Maine IDs won't get Mainers aboard airplanes in 2018

PORTLAND. Maine (NEWS CENTER) -- Starting in January, the federal government will not accept Maine state IDs or driver’s licenses as identification unless the state complies with a federal law calling for stricter and more uniform ID cards nationwide. And if the state is still out of compliance by 2018, Maine travelers will have to provide an alternative form of identification to board a commercial plane flight.

The Legislature passed a law in 2007 refusing to comply with the federal REAL ID law, and as of Tuesday it appears the state had run out of options to delay implementation.